Knowing when to use manual lawn equipment.....

Manual lawn equipment is a good alternative to it's motorized counterparts. You can be friendly to the environment and still maintain your lawn properly. You don't need state of the art and expensive lawn care equipment to get the job done. Think of your great grandfather and even your grandfather. They didn't have all the fancy equipment we have today and they were able to maintain their lawns. All they used was good old fashioned elbow grease.

Why should I use manual lawn equipment?

Manual lawn equipment is typically more affordable than it's motorized alternative. Simplicity is less expensive. You aren't paying for the cost of the complex machinery.
It is less costly to use the lawn care equipment as well. You don't need gas and oil for the equipment to run. Also, you don't have to use the gas in your car or truck to fill up the gas can.
Using manual lawn equipment can be more figure friendly. It is a natural way to burn calories. You will be building muscle in your arms and legs without going to the gym. Believe me, you will be using muscles you didn't know you had.

Keep in mind this is not an all or nothing concept. Your entire regiment doesn't have to revolve around using manual lawn care equipment. In fact, this may not be practical based on the size of your lawn.

Go from the manual lawn equipment page to the organic lawn care page.

Below I have given you an itemized list of manual lawn equipment that you can weave into your lawn care routine. I have tried to give you pros and cons for each piece of equipment. I truly believe we all should do our part in being friendly to the environment. However, it is important to finish the job you start and it is not always practical.

20”-22” Reel Mower

Pros

This mower is great for small lawns.
They cut the grass with a scissor like motion instead of slicing off the top of the grass quickly like a traditional lawn mower. The reel mower cut is cleaner which can protect against leaf damage.
They can be adjusted to cut real low which is great for certain types of grass (i.e. Bermuda grass).
The reel mower is not loud like it's conventional counterpart. You won't have to wear ear plugs and you will save your hearing.

Cons

It is not practical to use on a medium or larger sized lawn.
It won't cut tough, dense grass or weeds.
It is not good to cut grass that is more than 2” in length. Therefore, you may have to cut your lawn more frequently.

Manual Edgers

There are two types of manual edgers-stick and rotary. A stick edger has a half-moon shaped disk at the base of a long pole. It is used to slice off bits of grass and creates a straight edge. A rotary edger has a star shaped cutter that rotates between the pavement and grass to grind up a straight path between the two.

Pros

This edger is great for smaller to medium sized areas.

Cons

It is not practical for larger areas.
It may take longer to complete the job.
It requires a lot of elbow grease and energy to complete this job. If you are physically unable to complete the job, don't even attempt to use this piece of equipment.

Grass Scissors

Grass scissors can be used in place of a line trimmer.

Pros

This piece of equipment is great for smaller areas.
Because you are on your hands and knees using lawn scissors, you have an up close view and your trimming will be more precise.

Cons

It is not practical for larger areas. You could use this on a larger yard, but you would be out there all weekend trimming the grass.
It is physically tough on your back and knees.

Straw Broom

A straw broom can be used in place of it's motorized counterpart the blower to clean-up your driveway, sidewalks and patio after you have finished your weekly lawn maintenance regiment. This is probably the most common piece of manual lawn equipment that we all use.

Pros

You have more control of where the clippings go.
The broom is not loud like it's conventional counterpart, the blower. You won't have to wear ear plugs and you will save your hearing.

Cons

It may take a little more time to complete the job.

I have a tip regarding your grass clippings. Be sure to sweep the clippings back into your lawn. Those nitrogen rich grass clippings will feed your lawn naturally.

Metal Rake

The metal rake is a multi-purpose piece of lawn care equipment. It can be used to gather all the fallen leaves into a pile for you in the fall. It can also be used to dethatch. The metal rake will help breakdown the thatch layer so you can remove part of it.

Pros

This is only recommended for smaller areas.

Cons

It is not practical for larger yards.
It may take longer to complete the job.
Physically it requires a lot of energy and manpower.

Foot/Hand Aerator

The foot/hand aerator pokes thin holes in your lawn to allow air and water to enter the soil. It also helps with soil compaction problems. I actually use a foot aerator in my own front yard as it is on the smaller side.

Pros

This is only recommended for smaller areas.

Cons

It is not practical for larger yards.
It may take longer to complete the job

Dandelion Fork/Manual Weeder

A dandelion fork and/or manual weeder can be used to dig out weeds. Just using your hands to pull the weeds out of the ground can leave the roots in tact which will regenerate the plant and the weeds will return. This piece of equipment will help damage the weed and it's root system. This will make it tough for the weeds to grow back.

Pros

This is piece of equipment is recommended for scattered weeds.

Cons

It is not uncommon to have to repeat this process 3-4 times to completely eliminate your weed problem.
If you have a lot of weeds this may not be the option for you because it can be very time consuming.
Because you are down on the ground using this piece of equipment, it can be tough on your back and knees.

Rain Barrel

If you only want to rely on mother nature to provide the water that your lawn needs to stay healthy and grow deep roots, consider using a rain barrel. The barrel will store rain water.

Pros

Rain water is free. This will allow you to have a small supply of free water to use on your lawn when it hasn't rained consistently.
Works best with smaller lawns

Cons

You could never store enough water for a medium sized to larger lawn. Water is an essential ingredient in a beautiful and healthy lawn that is free of weeds, insects and disease.

Knowing when to use manual lawn equipment is key. By using manual lawn equipment you will be friendlier to the enviornment, your health and your pocket book.

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